Samsung One UI 8 Multitasking: A Smarter Layout for Galaxy Tablets

Samsung has steadily refined its Android skin, and with One UI 8.0, the company is doubling down on tablet productivity.

The latest update, rolling out alongside Android 16, brings not only an improved DeX experience but also a brand-new multitasking arrangement that changes how Galaxy Tab users can handle three apps on screen at the same time.

One UI 8 introduces a smarter way to multitask

Until now, Samsung tablets allowed users to open three apps simultaneously, but the layout options were not always practical. The old system forced one app into a tall 50% vertical window, while the other two were squeezed into horizontal 25% strips. In practice, this meant that many apps looked awkward, with important buttons and UI components either cut off or buried beneath cramped horizontal space. It was a compromise rather than a solution.

The new One UI 8 design addresses that frustration directly. With the latest layout, you can arrange three apps in a vertical configuration using a 50:25:25 ratio. One app takes half the screen, giving it enough breathing room to be genuinely useful, while the other two fit neatly in quarter-size vertical slots. This change is deceptively simple, but the impact is big: most apps are designed with vertical screens in mind, so resizing them this way makes them behave much more naturally.

Why vertical layouts work better on tablets

On phones, developers usually optimize interfaces for vertical scrolling and stacked menus. By applying the same approach to multitasking on tablets, Samsung makes sure that apps remain fully functional even in smaller windows. That means fewer cut-off menus, more intuitive navigation, and a smoother experience overall. The horizontal option is still present for those who want it, but Samsung itself acknowledges it doesn’t look nearly as good, especially for apps not built to shrink horizontally.

The difference becomes immediately noticeable in use. Imagine streaming a lecture in YouTube, jotting down notes in Samsung Notes, and keeping a browser tab open for research – all at the same time. In the old layout, your browser or note app might have felt too cramped. With One UI 8’s vertical multitasking, each app remains comfortable enough to actually get work done, not just to be visible.

Availability across Galaxy Tab models

Initially, Samsung introduced this multitasking refinement on its newest flagship series, the Galaxy Tab S11, including the Tab S11 Ultra. But now, the update has started rolling out to the Galaxy Tab S10+ and the Tab S10 Ultra, expanding the feature to more users. There’s still uncertainty about the Galaxy Tab S10 FE lineup, which only recently received One UI 8.0 in Korea. Samsung hasn’t confirmed whether this trio-friendly layout will make it to the FE models, but given the demand for consistent multitasking experiences, chances are high it will eventually spread across the range.

This update shows Samsung’s commitment to keeping its tablets competitive with traditional laptops for productivity tasks. Combined with DeX improvements and the company’s keyboard covers, the new multitasking option makes a Galaxy Tab feel more like a true work machine rather than just a media device. For professionals, students, or anyone who multitasks heavily, it’s a subtle but important upgrade that can make daily workflows smoother and more efficient.

As Android tablets continue to fight for relevance in a market dominated by iPads, tweaks like these could help Samsung solidify its place as the go-to choice for power users. One UI 8 is proof that the company isn’t just polishing the surface but actually rethinking how tablets can function as multitasking powerhouses.